Breaking news! VBACs at home upheld in Colorado!

Congratulations to the women of Colorado for retaining the right to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home attended by Registered Midwives! The Department of Regulatory Agencies has composed the following rules as a result of testimony provided by midwives, physicians, ICAN representatives, and citizens in December 2006. The written rules reflect the self-directed practices already in place by many of the state’s midwives.

RULE 12 – STANDARDS FOR VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN SECTION (VBAC) The purpose of this rule is to establish parameters for VBAC patients seeking midwifery care during pregnancy in order to safeguard the client’s welfare.

A. A direct-entry midwife shall not assume primary responsibility for prenatal care and birth attendance for women who have had a previous cesarean section unless all of the following conditions are met:

1. All prospective VBAC women shall sign an informed consent statement, which shall be retained in the client’s records and include the following:
(a) VBAC educational information including history of VBAC and client’s own personal information;
(b) Associated risks and benefits of VBAC at home;
(c) A workable hospital transport plan;
(d) Alternatives to VBAC at home; and
(e) Other information as required by the Director.

2. A workable hospital transport plan must be established for home VBAC. The plan shall be in writing and include:
(a) Place of birth within 30 minutes of transport to the nearest hospital or emergency medical center able to perform an emergency cesarean;
(b) Readily available emergency numbers for the nearest hospital or emergency medical center; and
(c) Provision for phone contact with nearest hospital or emergency medical center prior to any transport notifying the destination that transport is in progress.

3. There has been at least 18 months from the client’s cesarean delivery to the due date of the current pregnancy.

4. The client with 2 or more cesarean deliveries has also had a prior vaginal delivery.

B. Direct-entry midwife shall obtain prior patient cesarean records, in writing, and shall analyze the indication for the previous cesarean, and retain the records along with a written assessment of the physical and emotional considerations in client’s files. If the direct-entry midwife is unable to obtain the written records, the direct-entry midwife shall not retain the woman as a client.

C. Records that show a previous classical uterine/vertical incision or any previous uterine surgery which required an incision into the uterine fundus are a contraindication to VBAC at home and shall require immediate transfer of care of the patient.

D. Direct-entry midwife shall not induce or augment labor by the use of chemicals or herbal supplements or nipple stimulation.

E. A direct-entry midwife shall be present and manage the VBAC delivery from the onset of active labor throughout the immediate postpartum period.

May 17, 2007 | Filed Under Home Birth, In the News, Politics, VBAC 

Comments

4 Responses to “Breaking news! VBACs at home upheld in Colorado!”

  1. k. on May 18th, 2007 7:10 am

    WAHOOOOOO! Anyone announced this on ICAN yet?
    yippeeee for the women of Colorado!

  2. Kris Bagiu on May 18th, 2007 8:35 am

    Thanks for the reminder, k.! I just sent in the announcement the President of the Colorado Midwives Association posted to our professional groups.

  3. kemi on May 18th, 2007 9:34 am

    That’s Awesome!!! Congratulations to the ladies of Colorado!

  4. Pamm on May 23rd, 2007 9:57 pm

    This is the BEST birthing news I have heard in a very long time. I used to be a direct entry midwife years ago when VBACs were just starting to be popular. I thought they would be commonplace by now, but found out recently that things have been reversed. This gives me hope. Thanks for making my day!

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